Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs) in Region I once again took the center stage as the Department of Labor and Employment-Regional Office I recognized their contribution in employment.

Regional Director Nathaniel V. Lacambra led the awarding of best performing PESOs in 2016 and granting of cash incentives to those who actively implemented DOLE employment services in 2017 at the 2018 PESO Congress and Yearend Performance Assessment held in Angeles City, Pampanga on February 27-28, 2018.

“This event serves not only to measure your performance, but most importantly, to reward your efforts in unselfishly helping the DOLE in providing services to its clients. Most of you wear different hats, but your PESO function is perhaps the most challenging,” Director Lacambra said.

He said PESOs played a significant role in accomplishing the following for 2017: referral and placement of 89,669 and 52,375 jobseekers, respectively; institutionalization of seven PESOS; provision of labor market information to 234,630 individuals and 1,536 institutions; conduct of 104 job fairs with 5,890 hired-on-the-spot (HOTS); placement of 6,232 students and out-of-school youth under the SPES; placement of 2,267 applicants under the Government Internship Program (GIP); provision of livelihood assistance to 11,678 individuals, and emergency employment to 20,256 workers.

“Behind the figures are real stories of transformation in the lives of people whom you touched with your untiring service.These are even better rewards for all your work than the awards and cash incentives that you will receive,” the Regional Director said.

The Provincial Government of La Union and Charito Dator clinched the Best LGU PESO and PESO Manager awards for 1st class province category, respectively.For the 3rd to 4th class municipality, LGU Bacarra, Ilocos Norte and Dr. Clemente Galiza bagged the awards for the best LGU and PESO manager, respectively.

Special citations for key programs were given to the following LGU PESOs and PESO managers: Province of Ilocos Norte and Anne Lizette Bitancor for the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) and job placement; and Province of Pangasinan and Alex Ferrer for the Livelihood Program.

Certificates of Recognition were awarded to Jocelyn Siapno of Dagupan City and Roel Sabado of Rosales, Pangasinan for the Jobstart Program.The two LGUs are the pilot areas for the program in Region I.For institutionalizing the PESO program, the following also received special citations: Ilocos Norte; Batac and Piddig in Ilocos Norte; Narvacan, Tagudin and Sta. Cruz in Ilocos Sur and Calasiao, Pangasinan.END/Arly Sta. Ana-Valdez